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Matt, Russ, Theron, and Parker,
Sorry you guys didn't make it through Newport area until late Friday night, would have liked to have met you guys!
Well maybe next time.
If you guys ever come over this way, don't be afraid to give a holler.
I have a good idea where Parker is located so I may swing over that way sometime.
If you guys take a run to Bascom's and you come ths way, let me know if you want a passenger over and back.
45 degrees here right now, I'm thinking of last year, right after this it got some cooold till the first of March.
Dave
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Hi all! Sounds like everyone is busy during this nice thaw! I was up on the hill most of the day too, fixing lines and doing a little re-engineering here and there. I checked the temperature when I got back down to the house, and it was 65 degrees! But if this year is anything like the last two, winter will lock down soon for real, and I won't get tapped until March.
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Finished up checking all my lines and making repairs. My biggest bush has close to 50% of my taps and the squirrels ate it up this year. The other two bushes they only bothered each bush in 1 seperate place and that was it. There were a bunch of fox squirrels around the one bush and they ate it up. I have never seen this much damage. Definitely won't use any chlorine in the future. I had used it for years and hardly had a problem, but they must have got on to it this year.
Sugarhouse is nearly clean and about ready to go and just waiting for tapping time. I have about 2 or 3 more hours of just putting finishing touches on the inside of the sugarhouse and I will be ready to go. I have the largest supply of wood I have ever had this year and it is nearly all seasoned for 2+ years and has been in the woodshed drying for 6+ months. I did my 50 hour service on my Kubota last month the last day of the 2 year warranty as it took me almost 2 years to get 50 hours on it and it is ready to go also.
I did invest in a Craftsman shop vac a couple of months ago when they had a good sale and it definitely was a good investment for keeping everything clean. Since my entire sugarhouse is concrete floor, it definitely helps keep it nice and clean and would work good for anyone looking for something to help keep things a little cleaner. They have a floor brush that is about 16" and it was extra, but works great to keep the floor clean. Sure beats a push broom that stirs dust and it is wet/dry and sucks up to 9 gallon of water.
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I just came in from the woods. I am putting the finishing touches on the tubing. I have 30 drops to install and tie some mainline and it will be complete. Except for the tanks and I plan to have them taken care of in the next two weeks. Theron I will be out your way on Saturday. Send me a pm w/your address and Ph# an I will look you up.
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Dave- Im sending you the address and number, see you sat. 3%- Sorry we missed you. I wish I could have stayed longer but had to head back. Ill be sure to look you up next run up. Theron
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Well, the daffodils may start blooming soon here. I am putting in 200 taps on Friday, and will take Brandon's advice, and put the additional 150 taps in about 10 days later - depending on the weather - after getting back from Georgia for a 3-day family event. Thanks for the advice Brandon. Long range forecast (15 days) shows it to be very favorable sugaring weather. I hope to have syrup by next Tuesday. I will keep you posted.
Andrew
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Boy, I always hate the January thaw, but sure is great weather to get good work done. Took the day off from work - cut new holes in the sugarshack roof to accept the new stacks, washed out all the holding tanks and ran laterals for another 100 taps. Jumped a nice buck on the way out of the woods. Good day!
Not sure if it was the nice weather or closing in on tapping season, but it sure in nice seeing the Trader "come alive"!
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Ok the old Leader 2x6 is up and ready. I had a new stack base made for it
and changed it from 7" to 8".The blower I installed on it is 4"diameter and came out of a computer. I'm not real happy with it because I don't
think it moves enough air. I have a small squirrel cage fan I may try. I did a test
boil last Sunday to get a feel for the rig, seems like it whent pretty well.
I chicken out on putting a preheater in the fire box. I went ahead
and wrapped copper pipe about eight or nine times around the stack.
It worked pretty good on my old evaporator so this will have to do for
now. The water temp ranger from about 175 to 190. If I can figure out
how to make my camera talk to my computer (blue tooth stuff) I"ll
post some pictures. Gerry
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VA Maple Guy,
Spent several nights leaning over that rig at Jim's, visiting with them.:) about making syrup. I fact I think you might have the front pan that I sold to Jim for that rig? I think you will like the way it boils. Seems you may need a bigger blower? But try it you may be surprised?
Regards,
Chris
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Chris - I just took a look at your website and photos. Wow! Very impressive and attention to detail is remarkable. Excellent job rebuilding that arch! I rebuilt mine, and it came out fine, but yours looks fantastic. Sugar house is real nice as well.
